I love to barbecue. It is the one area of cooking that I took to naturally. Here at Monologue Manor all the women do the barbecuing. Maybe all those years of watchings hubs mom came in handy. After a few years of working the science out, I thought I would share some of my top tips so that you too can become queen of the barbecue.
1. Low and slow.
I never have my heat higher than medium when grilling. You don’t want to have the outside charred and then inside raw. Low and slow is key.
2. Let you meat get to room temperature (or close to it).
I usually take my meat out about 30 to 45 minutes before throwing it on the grill. The cold isn’t good for the meat and you don’t want it to get chewy. Gross.
3. Turn, turn, turn.
Typically for chicken and steak I turn the meat every 4 to 5 minutes until done. It helps to have even cooking and prevents the outside from getting too crisp.
5. Keep the fork away!
I am serious about this. Tongs are the only way to go. Using a fork will make your meat dry. Just think about it, when you puncture the meat all the juices escape and we don’t want that happening.
6. Let the steak sit.
I usually take steak off the grill ten minutes before it being done and I let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting it. This is especially important when you are grilling tri-tip or any large pieces of meat.
7. Be gentle with the seasoning.
It is easy to think that you need to put extra seasoning on meat before you grill it, but you don’t want to do that. You want the meat to taste like meat. For steak I usually use garlic powder, fresh pepper and kosher salt. For chicken I usually use a creole seasoning. Put a little on each side and the flavor will get in there enough not to overwhelm.
8. Avoid the scrape.
I scrape my grill once in a blue moon. I know, it sounds gross, but building the seasoning is what makes grilling good! I clean it every time I grill fish (you don’t want to pass that flavor on), but other than that? Not so much.
What is your favorite thing to barbecue?
I need to buy a grill… last summer I was too sick to really worry with it but this summer – I plan to {attempt} to be a grilling machine. I rock my George Foreman… does that count? LOL.
Ashley from The Kitchen-Sink Chronicles recently posted..Recipes for One: Fajita Wontons
That totally counts. Here’s to a better spring/summer for you!
Love this post!! My husband is the grill master in our house, but this totally motivates me to take a crack at it. I have no idea why the dang grill is so intimidating anyway!
Don’t let it scare you! You can do it! If you try it out, let me know how it goes!!
My honey just started to BBQ, we hadn’t done it much before but lately he’s fallen in love with it! Thank goodness, because I don’t BBQ, drives me crazy ha! Love this post! Can’t wait to let him in on these tips!!
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You will love it. It gets so hot here in the summer we have to BBQ because turning the oven on is not an option.
Great tips! I don’t grill, it intimidates me… my husband does all of that.
I was intimidated by the propane tank for a while. My husband had to always start it. lol.
Thanks for sharing! I have so many recipes that I want to try on the grill, but I have no clue how to really use one well!
Amberly Lambertsen recently posted..Monthly Marriage Goal – That Time I Didn’t Say Yes
Let me know if you have any questions. I am sure you will take to it easily!
I have never BBQd before, would you believe it? It always looks like a easy way to cook tho, I’ll have to keep track of your tips and try it one day!
You should!! If it gets hot in your area in summer you will never want to cook any other way. My stove stays off from June-August.